'A Woman who Did'

Southland Times, Issue 13456, 16 May 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

'A Woman who Did'

The vng*ries of Cupid had » carious illustration in tbe Nori b London Police Court recently. A tradesman, blinded by the wioged god, bad been tbe victim of a most impudmt fi«ud perpetratad by » husband and wife, who bled the 'inncceni' to tbe extent of £70 ere Le awoke from hia dream, in\ sought the prosaic aid of the law.

Henry SandftgoL 1 , aged twenty-on**, and Mattha Louie* Sanderson, twenty-four, his wife, were charged before Mr Paul Taylor with obtaining by falae pn t nets fioode to the value of rmr £70 fioin John Nicolle, a provision dealer. Mr C. V. YouDg, who prosecuted, gave detaiUof a somewhat extraordinary oh»racter. It was, he iaH, one of the most im. pndent frauds tbat bad ben perp. trated Tbe female prisoner had been a customer at the proeecotoi'd ahop, and in the cometof time they became more than usual j fritndly and walked oot an an engaged couple. The prosecutor took hti to a jew«ller« shop tnd bongbt an engagement ring and>overbl other arHclei of j seller j . She told the prosecutor she waa at the Mrae liviog with her stepfathtr, and soon afterwards she told him she had left tbe bonce of the latter, acd suggested that he ehoald stock a ihop and bonce for ber pending the marriage. This the prosecutor did. He took a shop at Berger road, Homerton, and with the male prisoner (who was introduced as the stepfather, Brown) arranged for the fitting and stocking the same. Fur niture was also put into the house, and prosecutor bought a wedding ring for the woman for her to wear when they interviewed the landlord of tbe new shop, bo that be might think they were married. From what came to the knowledge of the prosecutor he made inquiries at the registry office and found that the supposed stepfather and the female prisoner were in reality man and wife When she was taxed with the deception she treated it aa a joke, aad said ihe would like to meet with a few more of the same kind of people as tbe prosecutor. The prosecutor went into the box and testified to the foregoing statements, and added that he parted with bis goods in the full belief that tbe female prisoner was single and was going to marry him. When he furnished and stocked the honse and shop the female prisoner suggested that 'he and Mrs Brown' should occupy looms ups'air*. He had not seen 'Mrs Brown,' but was told she existed. After this Mr Brown came from time to time to fetch goods from the Canning Town to the Berger road shop. 'Brown' paid for lome of tbe goods betook away. When he told tbe oouple what he had diecoverfd, they replied that there was no use in omying on the deception fu'thcr, and apked him to come to some arrangement to accept co mnch per week until il hid be<n repaid. He, however, declined Ihe term-. The wedding and keeper rings w.re product, and the prosecutor said be had given the woman these on the uoderoianding that she was eligibls for o marriage, and was goiog to marry r>im. Mr" You. -H' : And I believs thar, in tbe presence of lbs male prisoner, befora you found out tbf tme stnte of affairs, you enjoyed the ordinary lover'd privilege, such ac kiietog and tbo like.

Prosecutor — Yes.

Tbe female prisoner (to the proseoafor): Didn't I always wear a wedding ring whea I was out with von ?

Prosecutor : No,

Tbe female prisoner : And one timo when you were in the shop dida't a woman ask me if my husband bad plenty of work ?

Tho Prosecutor : I didn't hear it

Mr ¥Y.»nng : And the total value of tho good« they hare bad frorn/oa is whit? The Preeecntor : L7O.

Toe imle prisoner aekod no qv ations

DeUctiv -S rgeani Lee, of the J diviaion, said be compared tbe certificate found in the priicn^i's hoose with tie registrar' book at P par, aai then asked tfie prisoners if tb«y were the S»unders7Do. They replied ' sTe«. ' Toe female prisoner aiad?; a statement. She said : 'He didn't ought to do thie. I would have p iid him back. He must have knowa I was marrieri. Ho is tbo softest mug I ever met. I should like to meet aaothor like bim. I told him that my bn»band was my stopfather. He always used to call him 'father' when lie came to Bee me. — (Lingbter, in which the female prisoner j )ined). Housed to ki?s me in front of bim. He ought to have known I was married/ She then handed over the rings produced. Detective -Sergeant Kemp corroborate 1 this and a statement of the male prisoner in which he said : 'I think it wan £ohg or. I did not interfere. They seemed to bo ail right. 1 was introduced to bim as 'Mr Brown,' the sbopfittor, and shortly afteiwarda I was introduced to him as h<r stepfather. Do I look like her stepfather ?' He found a letter upon the female. The envelope was addressed ' Mrs Nicholla», Bergor road, Hoinorton,' and tho contents of the letter were to pot off the Appointment to meet her because of pressure of business. Itconclndbd :'1 hope y A n will not be disappointed. — Ever yonra, John.'

On this evidenoe Mr Young asked that the prisoners be committed to tbo Central Criminal Court for trial.

The female prisoner : He knew I was married.

Mr Paul Taylor: You may tell that to tr" c jury. Tbe male prisoner, on being questioned, said he had nothing now to say except to ask for bail. Mr Paul Taylor : C< rtainly not. Mr Young : It is tbe most impudent fraud I have beard of for a loDg time. Mr Paul T«ylor: Bitb prisoners are ommitted for trial at tbe Criminal Cjart.